Residents sound off about traffic

February 14, 2006

FUNKSTOWN - Funkstown residents who attended Monday night's town meeting werer largely in favor of a proposal to reroute traffic in town.

Maryland State Highway Administration, Washington County Public Schools and the Washington County Engineering Department responded to letters from Funkstown's Mayor and Council asking for response to a proposed plan to make parts of Poplar and Chestnut streets one way. The letters suggested more studies and offered opinions against the proposed plan.

Two of the nearly 20 residents at Monday's meeting were opposed to the changes.

The council told residents Monday they would need more time to contact affected agencies and to decide on a way to offer residents relief from heavy traffic, while not causing additional traffic problems.

The changes being considered are:

Making Poplar Street from West Side Avenue to Antietam Street one way, with traffic only flowing toward West Side Avenue.

Making Chestnut Street from West Side Avenue to Antietam Street one way, with traffic only flowing toward West Side Avenue.

Making Poplar Street from High Street to Edgewood Drive one way, with traffic only flowing toward Edgewood Drive.

Making Chestnut Street from High Street to Edgewood Drive one way, with traffic only flowing toward Edgewood Drive.

The areas on both Poplar and Chestnut streets from Antietam Street to High Street would allow traffic to drive in both directions.